GPS MAPS BY ETHAN HARGARTHER

HISTORY OF GPS & SATELLITE NAVIGATION Sputnik 1 launched in 1957 by the USSR Learned by manipulating satellite orbit that it could be used to determine the position of a receiver on Earth In the 1960’s, the United States began creating the modern GPS satellites Navy, Air Force, and Army contributed to create NAVSTAR 24 satellites were launched by 1993 to complete a coverage of the GPS system worldwide

NAVSTAR

HISTORY OF GPS CONT. Initially GPS was intended for military and government use 1 st of September 1983 Korean Airlines flight KAL007 went off- course into USSR airspace and was shot down US President Reagan then proposed GPS should be accessible civilian technology Large turning point towards the creation of modern navigation systems

24 satellites circling the Earth in 6 orbital paths Original system cost $12 Billion Send radio signals from 12,600 miles above Earth Each covers a large area of the Earth’s surface – choreographed so that GPS receivers can receive signal from a minimum of 4 satellites Signal from 4 satellites is required to get a reliable position reading Five monitoring stations Master control station receives all the data, corrects it, and sends it back to satellites MODERN GPS

Each satellite transmits lower power radio signals on various frequencies for different users Signals sent similarly to cell phone reception via line-of-sight, where they are able to pass through cloud, glass, and plastic, but typically not through solid objects MODERN GPS CONT.

Updating digital maps is done through various methods Field work – data collectors drive through road networks recording changes or discrepancies with current maps Analysis of aerial and satellite imagery User feedback – companies receive map feedback from users and send inspectors out to physically check reported locations DIGITAL MAPPING

Primary digital map suppliers are TeleAtlas and Navteq Employ mobile vans equipped with many high-resolution digital cameras Vans also carry GPS receiver, odometer, and up to four computers equipped with tailor made programming to process data on board Gives the ability to construct a library of information, and to update maps to reflect real world changes on navigation systems DIGITAL MAPPING COMPANIES

Paper maps cannot be updated On average, 5% of all roads in the world are altered in some way each year Given time between collecting data for maps, drawing them up, getting them to typeset, printing, and then distributing them – the maps can quite literally be out of date by the time they reach the market More than just direction data is provided (points of interest, traffic information, speed regulation, vehicle restrictions, etc.) ADVANTAGES OF DIGITAL MAPPING

Two major areas of advancement in the future of GPS maps: Quality of maps that are provided – enhanced visualization improves the driving experience 3D imagery, elevation models, and landmarks have incredible potential Incremental updating – only the parts of the database that are added, deleted, or modified are being put through to a map user Grants a user updates to their system as updates happen on the navigation provider’s end instead of mass updating maps GPS III, 3x as accurate as current GPS systems FUTURE OF GPS MAPS